Electric-current controller.



- L. BRADLEY.

ELECTRIC CURRENT CONTROLLER. mfrucimon FILED NOV. 20, 1909" Patented Jan. 28, 1913.

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ELECTRIC CURRENT CONTROLLER. APPLICATION FILED 1191320, 1909.

Patented 28; 1913 e SHEETS-$112111 2.

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L. BRADLEY.

ELECTRIC CU'RRENT CONTROLLER. APPLIpATmN FILED 110x220, 1909.

Patented Jan. 28, 1913.

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Quins-5 j 7 MWEEmmi n %?7265565. fizyezzfw" L. BRADLEY. ELECTRIC CURRENT CONTROLLER.

, APPLICATION FILED NOV. 20. 1909.

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L. BRADLEY. ELEGTRIG CURRENT QONTROLLBR. APPLIOATIQN FILED nov zo, 1909.

"Patented Jan. 28, 1913 6 BHEETS-SHEET 5.

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L. BRADLEY.

ELECTRIC CURRENT CONTROLLER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 20, 1909.

Patented Jan. 28, 1913.

r 6 SIIEETSSHEET 6.

I fryeiziof: lg/lzoefimdiey UNITED STATES "PATENT carton.

LYNDE BRADLEY, DIE MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIG-N 'QR TO ALLEN-BRADLEY COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN.

ELECTRIC-CURRENT CON'IROLLEB.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I,'LYNDE BRADLEY, a

citizen of the United States of America, and

is 'a specification.

My invention pertains to electric current controllers and particularly -to those kinds of controllers using electrical resistors or resistance mediu'ms whose resistance is subjeet to change by pressure and in which the change of resistance of the medium by pres; sure placed upon it by associated mechanism, is used to .vary and control the currents passing through the device.

My invention is illustrated as adapted to a current controlling device of the general type} of that illustrated and described in United States Letters Patent 821,697, issued" to me under date of May 29th, 1906,

In my improved construction I provide an arrangement of parts such that the stresses of structural elements resulting in the compression of the resistor are carried for the most part by the apparatus mounted withr in the cast frame of the current controlling device, attaining by this arrangement a device in which the frame for assembling the parts is notsubjected to the excessive stresses and consequent strains involved-in compressing the resistor during, the use of the apparatus. I provide, also, novel and simple means for adjusting the critical point of beginning pressure when thea paratus is operated, and also for adjustin t e value of the maximum compressinn o the resis-.

tor.

The compressible resistor units which I illustrate in the accompanying drawings form the subject matter of other applications now pending, viz; Serial No. 467,352, filed December 14, 1908, and Serial No. 585,223, filed December 27, 1909, by Harry L. Bradley and myself as joint inventors.

While the compressible resistor here illust-rated is the one which I prefer to use, it is to be understood that any form of resist ance element, the resistance of which may be altered by varying pressure, may be em- ,Speciflcation of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 28; 1913.

Application filed November 20, 1909. Serial No. 529,124.

ployed without departing from the spirit of my invention.

In the drawin s accompanying and formmg a part of t is specification, Figure. 1

shows a front elevation of a device embody-- shows a sectional view taken on the irregul'ar broken line C Dof Fi inclusive, show' circuits 0 vice illustrated and embodying my improve.- ment,

The frame 1 supports the insulating slab 2 upon which are mounted fixed contact parts of an electric switch, and before which moves theJo-perating lever 3, carrying the 3; Figs. 6 tolO,

the complete dc movin parts of the switch. The lever 3 is pivota ly held by the shaft- 4 and carries two roller bearings Sand 6. A central boss 11 is shown cast integrally with the frame 1. It carries the shaft 4 and isthreaded to receive the lower end of the vertical rod 60. This part 11 is the only part of the frame which carries any strain and is in substance not a part of the frame but a part cast for convnience at the same time as the frame and may, if desired, be a separate integral part attached to the frame. The rod 60 extends vertically from 'the boss 11 arid centrally through the frame to the top web 1 of the frame. It carries at its top a cylindrical screw threaded nut 66 which has its upper face so cut that it may be turned by ascrewdriver or by a wrench. The nut 66 is in engagement-with the inner cylindrical surface of the boss 65 upon the upper web of the frame and serves by such engagement to aline the rod 60, but does not restrain it in any other way, the nut 66 being free to slide vertically withinthe boss 65. A movable carriage 7 slides upon the rod 60 and is sustained by engagement with rollers 5 and 6, engaging both of them upon the horizon- I These resistors may be of tal track 7 when the lever 3 is in its middle position, and engaging one or the other of them alone when the lever is moved to right orleft. The moving of the lever to right or left forces the carriage 7 upward, sliding it upon the rodGO, regardless of the direction of movement of the lever, the carriage 7 be ing lifted further as the lever 3 moves away from its middle position in either direction, and being lowered as the lever 3-is returned toward its middle'position. 4

The carriage 7 carries two resistors, each f of .two resistance elements or tubes; one pair of tubes being labeled Sand the-wither 9;

any suitabl type or number tobe compressed as the carriage 7 is "raised. The resistors, are held slidably nearthe top byyrestraining. bar 10 and a yielding abutmentis provided, as follows: Each pair of resistor tubes has an equalizer bar 8'; 9" agai nst which the upper terminals -'of the' 'ife'sistor units impinge when they are head 3 fra izer barsfor yokesfl2, 121

7 lifted by'ithe carriage These two equ al- I I i zer -b a'rs are connected by aj-pair of equal-- i any-attached 'by" the screws 22 to the .sliding 'sleeve tilslidingu'pon the rod- 60.

which are pivothez-slecve-til "is-the washer 67, the

hove t 63' pon the ,slidirig sleeve ng dowel 6:2, :Qvvhich -passesfreelvgthroughf hole drilled in l the off-the frame :ziniivhose function is to prei (int?therotationofthe sleeve (31. uponthe rod (iOQZUT-he part 62 has a further funct-iorrnil ithat. bylthejaddition the slotted \vith its shoulder; engaging. the ut'serves asan adjusting part to v 1 r determmethc lower hunt of motion of the L slee ilVhen hj impingement of reo. andgfiyagaipstihe upper abutinent sleeve 61' is lift'eid,'=sliding along the rod i to. the dowel or guide 62 also is lifted and rmgc-T.

mount-of the part- 62, which may be effected by the slot in the head 64, the point in, the -n'mvemcntof carriage 7, and therefore in thehcad (ttris lifted away from the frame.

Vhen the-resistors are lowered by the carriage T- the upper abutment follows carrying sleeve 61 with it, until the head 64 engages th 1fi-:inie.. at which time the sleeveand upper abutment members are'arrested and ('(ZlnC tocxert any pressure asan abutment upon the resistors even though the resistors may continue to descend, carried by car- It will be seen that by an adjust- .the movement of arm 3, at which the re- SIHiOl'S are relieved from all pressure when arm 3 is returning toward normal and conscquentlv at \\'hicl1=p1-essure is initiated upon the resistors when arm 3 is moving may from normal, may he predetermined and adjusted. The spring (327 provides a r and finally the nut ve the screw threaded friction to prevent accidental movement of the part 62 which might tend alsoto unscrew in service.

ihe contact parts 31 to 36, inclusive, and 37 to 42, inclusive, mounted on-the insulating slab 2, are so arranged as to be connected by the bridging brushes 43 and it, respectively, mounted on the lever 3 but insulated from it and from each other, so as to form the switching or circuit changing ele ment of the device when the lever 3 is moved to the right or left of its middle position. Since the movementof the lever also serves to compress or decompress the resistors and- Ftion, one of the rollers '5 or 6 'willlift car- .riage 7, sliding it upon rod 60, thus moving the lower ends of the resistors upward. The upper cnds of the resistors also move upvard at the same rate until the abutments 58 areengaged. At this time a compression of the resistor begins, the pressure at one end being exerted by carriage 7 and bein sustained by he lower end of rod (50 through boss 11, sha

parts are shown in Figs. 6 to 10, inclu-- t g'lever 3, wheel 5 or 6 and carriage 7, and the pressure at the'upper end boingi applied by abutments 58 and being sustained by the upper end of rod 60 through nut 66, spring 67, Washer 67, sleeve 61, pivot screws .22, 22, yokes 12, 12, equalizer bars 8 9 and abutments 58. As this. pressure is exerted through spring 67 and also through the compressible resistors, both of the elements will yield to some extent, resulting in the compres'sionof the spring 67 and the lifting of sleeve (31, until such time as the lever 3 has reached its ultimate travehat which time the, ultimate compression upon the resistors will depend upon the compression of spring depends upon the adjustment vof nut (-36 upon rod 60. It is to be noted that the frame of the device other than in the boss 11, not included in the parts placed under stre when the resistors are compressed, but that the structural element carrying the stress from one end to the other of the resis-tors is the rod 60, an element adapted to l e made of material of great:- tensile strength, andwell adapted to sustain such 67which in turn screw 62 may be so set as to permit the abu'tcompression ofthe resistors and thus attainspring 6?, in which case the position of the device connected for control of a series'motor, Fig. 6 indicating circuits whenstartlng or a greater number may be employed if meral 8 may indicate a single tube or it for instance, while the numeral 9 may be eating more than one tube, the tubes are to baconslde'red as connected together in see unyielding abutment for the upper end of ing started in the reverse direction. In each of a stress. It is obvious that the adjusting' ments 58 to be at all times in contact with the resistors, if so desired, and that the nut 66 may be so set that in the progress of the movement of the sleeve 61, the successive turns of the. spring 67 Will-make contact with each other, thereby providing a solid and unyielding abutment; all further movement or thecarriage 7 resulting in direct ing a high degree of compression. If an the resistor is desired, the nut 66 may be screwed down until the spring 67 is closed, or a solid washer may be substituted forthe upper abutment may be determined and adjusted by proper setting of parts 62 and 66, and the point of travel of thegresistors at which engagement with the abutment is made may be predetermined and adjuste' Referring to the circuit drawigs, Figs. to 10, inclusiVe Figs. 6, 7 and 8show circuits'of the complete current controlling in onedirection; Fig. 7 the circuits for maximum speed of the motor in the same direction of rotation as in Fig. 6; and Fig; 8 showing the circuits when the motor is bethese figures two resistors are shown, one at 8 and the other at 9,',the two being in series. This corresponds to the wirin connections shown in the detail figures. ig. 9 shows the complete device connected for control of a shunt-wound motor, an additional pair-of contact plates 45 being-provided in the switching, elements for this lar device with additional contact plates, the connection being for control of a series motor equipped with anelectromagnetic brake of a type used in jelevator and hoisting machinery, whose magnet is shown at B.

In the construction-shown in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, four resistor tubes are employed, two on each side. These tubes are connectedin series, and it is evident that a smaller desired. For simplicity in illustration in the diagrams of circuit connections, only two tubes are shown in each diagram and it may be considered that the reference numay indicate both of the tubes 8 of Fig. 4,

taken as indicating a single tube or both of the tubes 9, in Fig. 4. When taken as indiries.

Referring Fig. 6, current enters over conductor 50, passing the contact'pla te 42, eonductively-connected pair of brushes 44, contact plate 39,thence through the resistor 9 which is a pair of tubes in the detail figures, thence through armature 29 and re- 28 to 51, from .which circuit the resistances 8 and 9 have'beeneliminated.

Referring to Fig. 8, current entering over wire 50 passesthrough elements 41, 44, 38, s, 29, 9, 32, as es, 28' to 51, in which the direction through the armature 29 is.re-

versed' and therefore the direction of rotation of the armature is reversed. Referring to Fig. 9, current passes from conductor 50 to junction 'point 50', thence lover the first path through 42, 44, 39, 9 29,

"8, 33, 43, 36 and 51.

The second pat is from junction point 50 through 28, 45, 43 and 5,1, the brush 43 being in this case a tri 1e bridged brush.

eferring to Fig. 10, the brake magnet B is required to be energized during allthe time that the motor is in motion. In this figure, current entering on conductor 50 passes ,to the junction point 50, thence through the brake magnet B to contact plate 45 and brush 43, also from the junction point, 50' through elements 42, 44, 39, 9, 29, 8, 33, 43, joining the circuit from the brake gnet B, and continues through contact plate 36 and field winding,28 and conductor 51.

While I have, in order to obtain uniform 'ity' between the apparatus drawings and the circuit/diagrams, shown the resistor tubes connected in series, I do not wish to be limitedto thisform of connection, as it is obvious that numerous tubes and various combinations of series and multiple connections may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is 1. In an electric current controller, a compressible resistor; a tension rod; means for compressing said resistor comprising two abutments situated one at each end of said resistor; further means connecting said abutments to the ends of said rod, and imposing a stress upon said rod when imposing a compression upon said resistor.

2. {In an electric current controller, a compressible resistor, a tension rod, means for compressing said resistor comprising two abutments situated one at each end of said resistor, sa d abutments being attached also to the ends of said rod, and imposing a of said rod stress upon said rod when imposing a compression upon said resistor; a frame supporting said devices; fixed switch elements also supported by said frame; a switch lever carrying movable switch elements and a so supported by said frame, said switch ment to compress said resistor.

controller. a a rod constituting a 4. In an electric current compressible resistor: tension member ot'lhc compression incchanism for said resistor; a spring: an abutment at one end of said resistor and au chored to one end of said rod through said spring; an aluitu'icnt at the other end of said resistor and slidablc upon said rod: and means attached to the remaining end of said rod for sliding said second abutment to compress said resistor.

5. In an electric current controller, pressible resistor; two abutments resistor and between which said resistor is compressed; a guide rod for said abutments and a sliding alining screw for one of said abut-ments preventing rotation upon said rod, and constituting also an adj listing ele ment whereby the movement of said abutment in one direction is limited.

6. In an electric current controlir, a com pressible resistor; two abutments for said resistor and between which said resistor is compressed: a guide rod for said abutment-s and a screw constituting an a-lining pin and an adjustment. limiting the movement in one direction of one of said abut-merits.

7. In an electric current lrontroller, a com-' pressible resistor; a tensi 'an member parallel thereto; abutments for compressing said resistor and slidable ilpon said tension member; a spring; and an adjusting nut upon said tension memberj and engaged by said last mentioned abutment through said spring.

In an electric current. controller, a compressible resistor; a tonsioirmemhcr; abutments for compressing said resistorrone anchored to said tension member and the other slidable thereon; and an operating lever pivotally attached to one end of said tens" member, and acting to more the :uljarent abutment to slide upon said tension member and to compress said l't5l-ln!'.

a com- ;tor said 9. In an electric current controller a comf pressiblc resistor; a iillSlOIl member; abut flhc tension member and ad l g l r l i i l l l l I l l l g l l l l l l l l I; l

l l l l l l l l l l said resistor: a nut at the other end ments for com 'ircssing said resistor midable upon. said tension member; means at one end of said tension member on apted to force the adjacent abutment sl'idably along said, tension member to compress said resistt and means at the other end of said tcnraon member and adapted to obstruct the more meat of the abutment adjacent thereto,

10. in an electric current controller compressible resistor; a tension mom parallel thereto; abutments for compre said resistor and slidable upon said. tens'on member; means at one end of said torsion member engaging the tension member and adapted to force the adjacent abutment ably along said tension member to com;

,uilu tension member anc adapted to ob duct the movement. of the abutment adjacent there to; and a spring interposed between s lastabutment said nut, whereby tli movement of said abutment is resisted.

11 In an electric current controlle tension rod, members ailixed to said tension rod, a compressible resist-or posed parallel to said tension rod, two al ments for said resistorand disposed end thereof and slidable each upon sci yield ingiy the ends or sion rod, and means interposed lQBtV/(ii of said abutments and the adjacent end tie tension rod and adapted to force a abutmentto compress said resistors agai the other end of the tension ro l.

12in an electric current control -i;-:

pair of compressible resistors; rod; mains for compressing said resist comprising two abutments situated one as each end of said pair of resistors, said abut ments engagix'ig also the ends of said rod, through intern'iediate apparatus and. in1nosing a stress upon said rod when imposii I compression upon said resistors.

13. In an electric current controller, a pair of compressible resistors; a teneioi parallc to said resistors and position d i tween them; means for compressin; sister comprising in part two abntnr uated one at each end of said pair or? tors, said abutments being anchored ends of said rod, and imposing a stress up said red when imposing a'compression upon said resistors; frame supporting'said de-- rice; fixed switch elements also supported a switch lever carrying. movalso supported by switch lever being at the for said con.

by said frame; able switch elements and said frame, said same time the operating lever prcsslrn means.

lit: in an electric current; plurality of comprcroll cm "itutmg a ci'unp'lcsi abutment at one end of said resistors and attached to one end of said rod; an abutment at the other end of said resistors and slidable upon said rod; and means attached to the remaining endof said rod for sliding said second abutment to compress saidresisters. 1

15. In an electric current controller, a plurality of compressible resistor units, a rod parallel to said resistors and constituting a tension member of the compression mechanism forsaid resistors; a spring; an abutment at one end of said resistors and anchored to one end of said rod through said spring; an abutment at the other end of said resistor and slidable upon said rod;

and means attached to the remaining end of said rod for sliding said second abutment to compress said resistor.

16. In an. electric current controller, a plurality of compressible resistor units, two-abutments for said resistors and between which said resistors are compressed; a guide rod for said abutments and a sliding alining screw for one of said abutments preventing rotation upon said rod, and constituting also an adjusting element whereby the movement of said abutment in one direction is limited.

17. In an electric current controller, a tension rod; members affixed to the ends of said tension rod; a compressible resistor disposed parallel to said tension rod; two abutments for said resistor and disposed at the ends thereof and slidable each upon said tension rod; means interposed between one ofsaid abutments and the adjacent end of the tension rod and adapted to force said abutment to compress said resistors against the other end of the tension rod; and a spring included between an abutment and one end of the tension rod, whereby the applied force of compression is limited and regulated by the tensionlof said spring.

18. In an electric current controller, a compressible resistor; a rod parallel to said resistor and constituting a\tension member of the compression mechanism for said resister; a spring; an abutment at oneend of said resistor and anchored to one end of said rod through said spring; an abutment at the other end of saidresistor and slidable upon said rod; means attached to the remaining 'end'of said rod for sliding said second abutment to compress said resistor; a frame supporting said parts; an electric switch supported by said frame; and a lever operating both'said switch and the compression devices of said resistor.

19. In an electric current controller, a compressible resistor; two abutments for said resistor and between whichsaid resistor is compressed; a guide rod for said abutments; a sliding alining screw for one of said rod, and constituting also an adjusting element whereby the movement of said abutment in one direction is limited; a frame supporting said parts; an electric switch supported by said frame; and a lever operating both said switch and the compression devices of said resistor. i

20. In an electric current controller, a compressible resistor; a cylindrical tension member parallel thereto; abutments for compressing said resistor and slidable upon said tension member; an operating lever pivotally attached to one end of said tension member, and acting to move the adjacent abutment to slide upon said tension member and o compress said resistor; a frame supporting said parts; an electric switch support d by said frame; and a lever operating both said switch and the compression devices of said resistor.

21. In an electric current controller, a compressible resistor; a cylindrical tension member parallel thereto; abutments for compressing said resistor and slidable upon said tension member; means at one end of said tension member engaging the tension member and adapted to force the adjacent abutment slidably along said tension member to compress said resistor; means at the other end of said tension member and adapted to obstruct the movement of the abutment adjacent thereto; a frame supporting said parts; an electric switchsupboth said switch and the compression devices of said resistor.

22. In an electric current controller, a tension rod, members alfi'xed to the ends of said tension rod, a compressible resistor disposed parallel to said tension rod, two abutments for said resistor and. disposed at the ends thereof and slidable each upon said tension rod; means interposed between one of said abutments and the adjacent end of 'the tension rod and adapted to force sai abutment to compress said resistors against the other end of the tension rod; a frame supporting said parts; an electric switch supported by said frame; and a lever operating bothsaid switch and the compression devices of said resistor.

, 23. In an electric currentcontroller, a compressible resistor, a lever for subjecting said resistor to compressive stresses, a base ',upon. which said resistor and lever are mounted, and a tension .member independent of said base for counteracting the compressive stresses imposed by said lever.

24. In an electric current controller, a plurality .of compressible resistor units, a lever for subjecting said resistor units to compressive stresses, a base upon which said resistor units and lever are mounted, and a said abutments preventing rotation upon Tension inembm' independani 0i. $11M ha?" for 0011 I the compressiw: SLZQSSQS imposed by said lever.

25. E11 21 comm-011w lating dew'ice, swii the circuits 0f Ca compressibi res istance of aid ell-amiss, a

aid 0: Quit la upon which 

